Firebrands, radiation and direct flame contact transition of fire into Wildland-Urban Interface
Wildfires pose a significant risk to human settlements and environmental assets. They can cause ignition of structures by firebrands, radiation or direct flame contact and transition of fire into Wildland-Urban Interface area (the area where structures such as houses meet or overlap with wildland or vegetation fuels). In addition, the impact of changing climates creates new challenges for researchers and fire managers. Fire seasons are becoming longer, wildfires are become bigger and more intense resulting in megafires.
Physics-based models and state-of-the-art laboratory and field experiments develop understanding
These new challenges require innovative and novel approaches to predict wildfire spread through the landscape and the associated impacts to communities. Physics-based models and state-of-the-art laboratory and field experiments help us understand how fuel, weather, terrain and spatial scale interact and influence ignition, spread and fire intensity. This knowledge is used to develop operational models to simulate wildfires, providing vital information to fire fighters, fire managers and the general public about fire behaviour, its impact on communities and biodiversity.
Fire behaviour research themes are wide ranging
Our research themes include:
- Fire propagation in fuel beds
- Fire transition in fuel strata
- Interaction between fire fronts
- Ignition and combustion of fuels
- Generation of smoke and its impact
- Impact of fire on vegetation and its survivability
- Firebrand generation, transport and spotting
- Ignition of structures by firebrands
- Fire performance of structural materials